Roth 10 e

Chapter 7

MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A pregnant client tells the nurse that she is taking megadoses of vitamin A in the hopes that it will
keep her complexion clear throughout the pregnancy. What could the nurse say about the client’s
use of this vitamin supplement?
a. Consuming megadoses of vitamin A may c. Taking megadoses of vitamin A are a
cause permanent night blindness. good idea during pregnancy because
vitamin A supports a healthy immune
system.

b. Consuming megadoses of vitamin A may d. Taking megadoses of vitamin A will

result in birth defects. neither help nor hurt her or the fetus
during the pregnancy.
ANS: B

Toxic levels of vitamin A may cause birth defects, bone pain, anorexia, and enlargement of the liver.
Night blindness can result from a deficiency of vitamin A. Vitamin A does support a healthy immune
system, but megadoses during pregnancy would not be advisable due to the risk of birth defects.
PTS: 1 REF: Fat Soluble Vitamins
2. During an initial nutrition assessment of a client, the client asks about food sources for vitamin D
other than fortified milk. The client likes warm, rather than cold milk and is concerned that warming
the milk destroys the vitamin D. Which of the following statements could the nurse make about
vitamin D and warmed milk?
a. About 50% of vitamin D is destroyed by c. The only way to get adequate vitamin D is
warming the milk, so drink twice as much. to drink fortified milk.
b. Egg yolk contains vitamin D, but since it d. Vitamin D is not harmed by cooking.
is destroyed by cooking, the egg yolk must
be undercooked.
ANS: D
Vitamin D is heat-stable and not easily oxidized, so it is not harmed by storage, food processing, or
cooking. Egg yolk does contain vitamin D, but it would not be lost in cooking. Also, raw or
undercooked eggs are not safe to eat. Other food sources of vitamin D are fish liver oils, butter, and
fortified margarine.
PTS: 1 REF: Vitamin D
3. A client presents with these symptoms: legs that feel heavy, burning feet, muscle degeneration,
headaches, depression, anorexia, constipation, tachycardia, edema, heart failure, and irritability. The
nurse recognizes that these symptoms could reflect a deficiency of what B-complex vitamin?
a. niacin c. riboflavin
b. pantothenic acid d. thiamine
ANS: D
Beriberi is a deficiency disease caused by a lack of thiamine. The symptoms of beriberi are: legs that
feel heavy, burning feet, muscle degeneration, headaches, depression, anorexia, constipation,
tachycardia, edema, heart failure, and irritability.
PTS: 1 REF: Vitamin B-complex
4. The nurse notes while assessing a client that the client is taking a vitamin prescribed by a physician
for cholesterol lowering. What vitamin has been prescribed?
a. niacin c. vitamin D
 b. pantothenic acid d. vitamin C
ANS: A
Niacin is sometimes used as a cholesterol lowering agent. When niacin is used as a cholesterol
lowering agent, the client must be closely supervised by a physician because of possible adverse side
effects such as liver damage and peptic ulcers.
PTS: 1 REF: Niacin
5. While completing the initial assessment of a client, the nurse notes that the client does not like to
consume fruits and vegetables. Physical findings show that the client has gingivitis, bruised skin,
pinpoint hemorrhages of the skin, sore joints and muscles, and involuntary weight loss. What
nutrient deficiency should the nurse suspect?
a. vitamin A c. Pantothenic Acid
b. vitamin C d. vitamin B12
ANS: B
Vitamin C is know to prevent scurvy. This disease is characterized by gingivitis; flesh that is easily
bruised; tiny, pinpoint hemorrhages of the skin; poor wound healing; sore joints and muscles; and
weight loss. Vitamin C is found in fruits and vegetables. The best sources are citrus fruits, melon,
strawberries, tomatoes, potatoes, red and green peppers, cabbage, and broccoli.
PTS: 1 REF: Vitamin C
6. A family member of an elderly client contacts the nurse and asks why the client is receiving B12
injections. Which of the following answers could the nurse give?
a. The injections of B12 are given to prevent c. The injections of B12 are given to prevent
blindness. pellagra
b. The injections of B12 are given to prevent d. The injections of B12 are given to prevent
beriberi pernicious anemia
ANS: D PTS: 1 REF: Vitamin B12

MULTIPLE RESPONSE
1. A client asks the nurse how one can be sure they are consuming foods that will provide adequate
vitamin A. Which of the following messages would be appropriate for the nurse to convey? Select all
that apply.
a. Consume at least 5 servings a day of d. Provitamin A carotenoids are found only
darkly pigmented fruits and vegetables. in orange vegetables.
b. Consume liver, butter, cream, whole milk, e. Spinach and broccoli are goods sources of
and whole milk cheeses without provitamin A carotenoids.
restriction.
c. Eat nuts everyday. f. You must take a vitamin A supplement to
ensure adequate intake of this vitamin.
ANS: A, E
Provitamin A carotenoids can be converted to vitamin A from darkly colored pigments, both green and
orange, in fruits and vegetables. Consuming 5 servings a day of darkly pigmented fruits is highly
recommended. Liver, butter, cream, whole milk, and whole milk cheeses contain preformed vitamin A,
but are high in saturated fats so they should be consumed in moderation. Nuts are a source of vitamin
E, not vitamin A. A multivitamin is not necessary to ensure adequate vitamin A intake if adequate
darkly pigmented fruits and vegetables are consumed.
PTS: 1
2. In reviewing a client’s medical record, the nurse notes the client is unable to produce intrinsic factor.
The nurse is concerned that this problem could result in the client developing an anemia related to
deficiency of what vitamin(s)?
a. vitamin B1 d. vitamin B12
 b. vitamin B2 e. vitamin A
c. vitamin B6 f. vitamin C
ANS: D
Intrinsic factor is needed for the body to properly absorb vitamin B12. If intrinsic factor is missing,
pernicious anemia develops.
PTS: 1 REF: Vitamin B12
3. A female client tells the nurse that she is trying to get pregnant and asks if there are any nutrients she
should be particularly considered about during the time she is trying to conceive. The nurse tells her
that women of childbearing age should consume at least 400 micrograms of folic acid each day. Why
will the nurse say this is important?
a. Adequate intake of folic acid will help the c. Consuming 400 micrograms of folic acid
client to conceive each day will guarantee a healthy baby.

b. Consuming at least 400 micrograms of d. Research shows that consuming 400

folic acid each day helps prevent major micrograms of folic acid each day helps
birth defects. prevent morning sickness in the first days
of pregnancy.

ANS: B
The habit of obtaining enough folic acid (400 micrograms) each day will prevent major birth defects if
pregnancy occurs.
PTS: 1 REF: In The Media (page 127)
4. The nurse tells a healthy client that the American Medical Association (AMA) recommends that
everyone take one multiple vitamin a day. The client asks why. Which of the following statements
could the nurse make about this recommendation? Select all that apply.
a. Almost everyone can take a daily d. Multivitamins will help the client build
multivitamin without fear of toxicity. bigger muscles.

b. Food no longer contains the right nutrients e. Taking a multivitamin everyday will
in adequate quantities. ensure will cure the common cold.

c. Many people do not get adequate nutrients f. Taking a multivitamin will give the client
from their diet because they do not follow more energy.
a healthy eating plan, relying on fast food
and processed foods.

ANS: A, C
A balanced diet would provide for the nutritional needs of healthy people, but many do not follow a
healthy eating plan, relying on fast food, processed foods, and heat, eat, and go foods. Therefore, the
(AMA) has recommended that everyone take one multiple vitamin a day. Almost everyone can take a
daily multivitamin without fear of toxicity. Taking a multivitamin each day will not build bigger
muscles, cure diseases, or provide energy.
PTS: 1 REF: Supplements